Drier.



No. 735509. PA'TENTED AUG. 4, 1903;

0. w. STANTON. I

' DRIER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 18, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

a i x UNITED STATES ratentea August 4, 190's.

PATENT OFFICE.

DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 735,609, dated August 4, 1903.

Application filed November 18, 1902 Serial No. 131,897. (No model-l To all whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES WALDREN STANTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Driers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in driers, and is adapted for drying materials of all descriptions, more particularly lumber.

The invention aims to provide a drier particularly adapted for drying lumber,although it is applicable for use for drying other materials as occasion may require, and it is furtherm ore adaptedto separate the vapors arising from the materials being dried from the air by condensation- The invention further aims to construct a drier which shall be simple in construction, strong, durable, efficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to set up; and to this end it consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference charactersdenote corresponding parts throughout both views, and in which Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved drier, and Fig. 2is a sectional plan on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the drier, or what may be termed the kiln, is constructed of the outer side walls 1 and 2, the outer front and rear walls 3 and/1:, the outer top-wall 5, connecting the walls 1 and 2 together, the inner side walls 6 and 7, the inner front and rear walls 8 and 9, and the top wall 10, which connects the inner sidewalls 6 and 7 together and is provided in the apex of the top thereof with an opening 11, the function of which will be hereinafter set forth. The lower end of the inner and outer side walls and the lower end of the inner and outer front and rear walls are connected together by the base 12, or, in other words, the various walls forming the kiln may be integralwith one another and therein, and'these openings are closed by the doors 14. These doors when in their closing position are preferably hermetically sealed. The openings in the front wall 3 are in alinement with a pair of openings formed in the inner front wall 8; but the sides of these openings are closed by the auxiliary walls 15, so that when the doors let are opened no air will enter the condensing air-passage 13 at the bottom thereof.

The rear wall 4 is provided with a pair of openings, which may be termed outlet-openings, to permit of the material being discharged from the kiln, or vice versa. These openings are closed by the doors 16. These doors when in their closing position are preferably hermetically sealed- The openings in the rear wall 4 are in alinement with a pair of openings formed in the inner rear wall 9; but the sides of these openings are closed by the auxiliary walls 17, so that when the doors 16' are opened no air will enter the condensing air-passage 13 at the bottom thereof.

Within the kiln or drying-chamber is a suitable means for heating the same. One form is as shown and consists of an inlet-pipe l8, communicating with the horizontally-extending heating-pipes 19. These pipes are substantially U -shaped and extend from end to end of the drying-chamber and therein terminate in the outlet-pipe 20. As shown, the inlet-pipe l8 and outlet-pipe 20 extend in a transverse manner and the heating-pipes 19 in a longitudinal manner. Other forms or arrangements of heating means for the drying-chamber can be employed. The drying chamber is also provided with a pair of tracks 21, upon which is run the cars or receptacles carrying the material to be dried.

Within the lower portion of the condensing air-passage 13 is placed a cooling medium, as at 22. This cooling medium is preferably water and is supplied to the bottom of the condensing air passage through the medium of the cooling-medium-supply pipe 23, which extends at one end into the lower portion of the condensing air-passage 13, as at 24, and at its other end is connected to a reservoir or tank 25, supported upon the frame 26. Other means may be employed for supplying a cooling medium to the bottom of the condensing air-passage 13 than that as shown. Communicating with the condensing airpassage 13 is an overflow-pipe 27 for discharging the products of condensation and the overflow of the cooling medium from the condensing air-passage 13 into the receptacle 28, forming a trap. The receptacle 28 is provided with a sealing means 29, preferably of water. The receptacle 28 is also provided with a draw-off or filling cock 30 for supplying the sealing medium thereto and also to exhaust any gases that may accumulate in the trap and it is desired to take off.

The reference character 31 denotes a carrying-off pipe for the overflow of the sealing means, the products of condensation, and the overflow of the cooling medium from the condensing air-passage 13. At the bottom of the receptacle 28 a gate or door 32 is provided to permit of entrance being had to the receptacle 28 for cleaning out the same of the heavy residuum that would precipitate to the bottom of the trap. The supply-pipe 23 is provided with a cut-off 23'.

The operation of the drier is as follows: Assuming that the material to be dried has been placed in the drying-chamber, the doors of the kiln are closed and made as near airtight as possible, heat is turned on, and as the vapors begin to arise from the materials and mix with the air they are carried through the opening 11. They gradually descend downward in the condensing air-passage l3 and coming in contact with the cooling medium 22, preferably flowing water, the vapors and gases mixed with the air are condensed and are carried off through the pipe 27 along with the overflow of water or other cooling medium. The air separated from the vapors and gases reascends back into the interior of the kiln, owing to the fact that the heat within the kiln will draw the purified air thereto. The products of condensation and the overflow of the cooling medium are carried by the pipe 27 to the trap or receptacle 28, wherein they are discharged and made use of as occasion requires by means of the carrying off pipe 30. The cooling-medium is supplied to the bottom of the condensing air-passage in a continual manner, so that the temperature of the cooling medium will remain normal and perform its function of condensing. After the material has been thoroughly dried it is removed from the drying-chamber and a new charge placed therein. It would be well to state that the material from which the kiln is constructed is preferably airtight.

It is thought that the many advantages of a drying apparatus constructed in accordance with the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, can be readily understood, and it will furthermore be evident that changes, variations, and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of protection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a drier, a kiln provided with a condensing air-passage communicating with the interior thereof, suitable means for heating the kiln, a tank provided with a cooling medium, a pipe communicating with said tank and with said passage for continually supplying a cooling medium to the said passage, a receptacle provided with a sealing means, a pipe communicating with said passage opposite to the point of communication between the supply of cooling medium to the passage, said pipe further communicating with said receptacle, said pipe adapted to carry the overflow of the cooling medium and product of condensation from the said passage to the said receptacle, and means for carrying oif the overflow of the cooling medium and the products of condensation from the said receptacle.

2. In a drier, a kiln having its walls provided with a condensing air-passage communicating with the interior of the kiln, suitable means for heating the kiln, means for circulating water through the air-space at the bottom thereof, a pipe communicating with the air-passage for carrying off the overflow of the water when it reaches a certain level, a trap communicating with said pipe, and a permanent sealing medium arranged in said trap and adapted to seal the said pipe to prevent outside air from entering the air-passage.

3. In a drier, a kiln having its walls provided with a condensing air-passage communicating with the interior of the kiln, suitable means for heating the kiln, a pipe communicating with the air-passage at the bottom thereof and with a water-supply for continuously feeding water to the bottom of said air-space, a pipe communicating with said air-space diametrically opposite to the communication for the first-mentioned pipe and adapted to carry off the overflow of the water In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I in the air-space when the water reaches a my hand in presence of two subscribing witoertain level, atrap communicating with the nesses. lower end of said overflow-pipe, and means CHARLES WALDREN STANTON. in said trap for sealing the lower end of said Witnesses:

overflow-pipe to prevent the entrance of out- GEO. W". REA,

side air to the condensing air-space. WILLIS H. FOWLE. 

